Billy MacLellan (Temal Danker in “Wish I’d Spaced You When I Had The Chance“) is The Reverend in John Leonetti’s horror film THE SILENCE, based on the 2015 novel by Tim Lebbon about a plague of mutant bats. (After being attacked by a parasitic organism, the bats morph into a new lethal species called Vesps, which rapidly increase in number and attack the human population.) The story follows Ally (Kiernan Shipka), a deaf teenager, whose heightened senses enable her to know when the Vesps are nearby. She and her family retreat to the woods where they must live in total silence, because even the slightest noise attracts the creatures. Filmed in Toronto, THE SILENCE will premiere in Germany on 6 September.

MacLellan will also be Arielle’s father John in ICE BLUE, a film about the unexpected return of Arielle’s mother, Maria (played by Michelle Morgan). Maria had vanished some ten years previously, and her return causes Arielle (Sophia Lauchlin Hirt) to question everything that her father has ever told her about their family. Director Sandi Somers told Jessica Melnychuk of Local Drop Magazine: “One of the last times I saw my mother before she died, she asked me if I’d heard this message. She didn’t tell me what it was – she said ‘I’ll tell you about it the next time I see you’. And I still don’t know what it was. What was it she wanted to spend focused time with me to tell me about? It triggered the inspiration for some of the film’s themes.”ICE BLUE had its premiere last September at the Calgary International Film Festival. Continue reading →

– also Michael Eklund, Melanie Scrofano, Kat Barrell

Andrea del Campo and Michael Eklund in STEGMAN IS DEAD

Melanie Scrofano will be Lisa Jordan in episodes six and seven of DESIGNATED SURVIVOR. In episode six, which will air on ABC on 9 November at 10pm, a shooting at the White House during a Governors Summit disrupts President Kirkman’s plans to elect a new Congress. (For those who need to catch up, previous episodes can be streamed on the ABC website.)

Melanie Scrofano co-wrote a Wynonna Earp comic with Beau Smith. It will be out in January.

Michael Eklund (Bobo), besides being one of The Rowdy 3 on BBC America’s DIRK GENTLY, is Luke Petrie in the film CHOKESLAM, the story of a mild- mannered deli clerk (Chris Marquette) who finally gets a second chance to pursue his high school sweetheart (who has become a notorious pro wrestler) when she returns for their ten-year reunion. CHOKESLAM premiered at the 2016 Calgary International Film Festival. and will be in Canadian theatres beginning 10 February 2017.

Eklund is also Gus in the crime comedy STEGMAN IS DEAD, the tale of a low-level crime kingpin whose best thief (Gus) decides to go into business for himself. Producer Juliette Hagopian says she hopes the film will be ready for the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in January.

Kat Barrell and Amy Acker during production of A NUTCRACKER CHRISTMAS

Katherine Barrell (Officer Nicole Haught) will be Beth James in A NUTCRACKER CHRISTMAS, a film about Lily, a rising ballet star (played by Amy Acker), and her sister (Beth), who often forgoes her own needs to make sure Lilly has every opportunity. Lilly is accepted into the New York City Ballet and lands the lead role of Clara in The Nutcracker. As she prepares for her big night, she receives news that her sister has died, and also that her boyfriend the director has removed her from the show. Betrayed and heartbroken, she vows never to dance again. Years later, Lilly’s niece must dance the same role in the Philadelphia Nutcracker Ballet, and discovers that the Ballet Director is the same fellow who betrayed Lilly years ago. A NUTCRACKER CHRISTMAS will air 10 December at 8pm on the Hallmark Channel.

Sasha Barry (Bethany) is Tina in the USA Network pilot DAMNATION, which is billed as an epic tale of 1930s America, focusing on the struggle between the wealthy and the impoverished during The Great Depression. The story centers on a small town preacher (played by Killian Scott) who has a violent past and a secret ambition to lead a revolution against American industrialists. Set in 1931 Iowa, DAMNATION began filming in and around Calgary, Alberta on 3 October. Christopher Heyerdahl of VAN HELSING is also in the cast, as are Phillipa Domville and Nola Augustson who both appeared in the LOST GIRL episode “There’s Bo Place Like Home“.

Sasha Barry is also Kylie in the five-episode 2015 webseries WORLD OF MOUTH, about a dentist and his anything-but-dedicated staff. Josh Bertwistle (Big Bubba and Vinnie) appears in two episodes as Flossy.

The Season One Wynonna Earp Yearbook – with an introduction by Emily Andras, will be released on 18 April 2017. The book is filled with action shots from the show and behind-the-scenes photos. as well as pictures of the cast at San Diego Comic Con. It can be pre-ordered from Amazon for $10.

LOST GIRL – Season 5 Episode 11 – SPOILERS

STACEY:“You’d think a portal to Valhalla would be hard to miss, but that’s what I said about genital warts.”

Linda Hamilton as Acacia in her teaching days Since her car is a 1955 Chevy, the scenes at The Valkyrie Academy most likely occurred in the mid-1950’s. Her car also appears to have a license plate from that era,

Evony (Emmanuelle Vaugier) is back, and dangerous as ever, though still human and quite vulnerable. With the help of Stacey (Kate Corbett) and Acacia (Linda Hamilton), Tamsin becomes aware of her own power, puts Acacia in charge of Valhalla when she could have had the position for herself, and goads Hades into showing his hand a bit. Once again, nobody tells Bo anything. Lauren and Tamsin tell her only what they absolutely must.

Tamsin’s new ride, a battered Dodge pickup truck from the 1980’s

Tamsin now has the Brísingamen, which Trick calls the “necklace of seduction”. She took it before she sent Freyja and Stacey to monitor Tartarus. (Well, she sent Frejya there. Stacey tagged along without being told.) In Norse myth, Freyja is the goddess of love and fertility (among other things) and the necklace, which she always wore, has power similar to that of Aphrodite’s girdle. In Greek mythology, Hephaestus made a girdle of finely wrought gold for his wife Aphrodite. The magic he wove into it’s filigree work made her irresistible, and caused the breakup of their marriage, just as the acquisition of the Brisingamen caused the split between Odin and Freyja (for slightly different reasons).

Tamsin and Stacey

With Frejya and Stacey in Tartarus, and Acacia in Valhalla, no one on earth knows that Tamsin has the necklace. Hephaestus turns up in next week’s episode, Judgement Fae, so it is possible that the necklace somehow becomes a problem.

Student Valkyrie Tamsin meets Acacia secretly at midnight. When using the power to cast doubt, the eyes of the valkyrie are darkened more stylishly than in past episodes.

Still upset at losing Bo, Tamsin has devised a plan to send Hades (Eric Roberts) back where he came from. She locates Stacey, who is unhappily working at a fast food joint, and all too pleased to join the mission. Acacia (Linda Hamilton) initially wants no part of Tamsin and Stacey’s adventure, but when the two head to the abandoned high school where they had been classmates, Acacia shows up to offer assistance. It turns out she was hiding Freyja there and wanted to keep them from finding out about that.

Tamsin and Stacey swear to keep Acacia’s participation in their plan secret, using different hand signs.

Tamsin and Stacey find Freyja in a closet and force her to reveal her secrets. It seems that she was hiding because others wanted her to send Hades back to Hel, and she did not want it known that she didn’t have the power to do that. Her necklace had never worked on Hades. He went to Tartarus voluntarily so that he could build an army under cover of darkness.

Tamsin and the cheque she received from Hades for finding Bo

Meanwhile, Evony’s test results are in, and she is very sick. So sick, in fact, that Lauren wonders aloud how she is still standing. Evony believes that her malady is the result of a curse that was placed on her while she was The Morrigan. The curse had no effect at the time, because she was so powerful, but once she became human, it took effect. Whether this is true or not (it seems like speculation on the part of Evony) it is bound to play on Lauren’s residual guilt about Nadia, her previous girlfriend who was cursed by The Ash into a five-year coma, and later killed by The Garuda.

In the best scene of the episode, Lauren and Bo are at the Dal discussing Hades (Jack). Evony joins them at the bar.

Stacey at By-You Burrito

LAUREN: [to Bo] “Speaking of Jack, how are you feeling?”EVONY:“I love him. Finally someone was straight with me. I’m sick and I have to deal.”BO:“Evony, I’m impressed.”EVONY:“Well, luckily, I have the help of a very good doctor.”LAUREN: (after long hesitation) “Oh, you mean me?”EVONY:“God, I hate your false modesty. Yes, you, you moron. Now buy me a drink. We got this, right?”BO:“Yeah, I think we do.”EVONY: (raises glass) “To Doctor Lewis. My friend. And the only hope I’ve got.”LAUREN:“Evony, I swear to you, I will never give up on you.”EVONY:“I know. I mean, you’re still chasing the succubus. Talk about futile.”

Kate Corbett (Stacey) is Tammy in THE STEPS, which had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 14 September. The film is about New York siblings who travel to Canada to visit their father and meet his new wife, only to hear their parents announce that they’re adopting a child. Directed by Andrew Currie, the film mocks peculiar obsessions and bad habits on both sides of the Canada/US border. Naomi Snieckus (the talent agent in LOST GIRL episode 1.9) also appears in the film as a social worker named Ellen.

The movie A SUNDAY HORSE, with Linda Hamilton as Mrs.Walden will be an Official Selection in the Equus Film Festival in New York City, 19-22 November. Inspired by a true story, the film focuses on a determined rider from the wrong side of the tracks recovering from a near fatal accident. She attempts a comeback at the National Jumping Championship, on a horse the experts thought was nothing special.

Hannah Anderson‘s short film COME BACK offers some interesting perks for donors. For $50 you get an “original and heartfelt love song dedicated to you” by Hannah Anderson. For $99, lead actor Brett Donahue will take you on a “fairy tale motorcycle ride into the sunset”. For $850, a screenshot of your choice from the completed film will be painted on a 24×30 canvas by artist Matthew Edison.